Cost to Install a Garage Door Opener – 2021

| Last Updated: August 23, 2021

National Average Improvement and Repair Cost

Pro

DIY

Hours:

4.7

6

Cost:

$ 378

$ 210

Would you do this project? According to our survey, 40% of respondents preferred DIY compared to hiring a pro.

The average price to Install a Garage Door Opener noted above is cost data to compare a contractor’s estimate with doing it yourself.

What’s the cost to install a garage door opener? A garage door installer charges $378 to replace a garage door opener or you can do the job yourself for $210 and save 44 percent.

Most of us take our garage door opener for granted until it stops doing its job and we have to raise and lower a heavy door manually. Once a luxury, this device is now a necessity.

With a simple click the device opens a cumbersome door and provides the security of remaining in the car. Today’s opener systems are designed to operate with emergency battery-power in case of a power outage, and to be opened or closed manually in case of an emergency.

A garage door installation service charges $378 to replace an electric garage door opener in a typical two-car garage, which includes the labor and material. If you’re a handy homeowner, you can replace an old unit with a new one for $210, the garage door opener installation cost, and save 44 percent.

The units are sold online and at home centers and hardware stores. You’ll need basic carpentry and electrical tools, including screwdrivers, a hammer, adjustable wrench, socket wrench, tape measure, drill driver, hack saw, pliers, wire stripper and carpenter’s level. You’ll also need a ladder, and it’s useful to have a helper with a ladder.

The job involves several steps: identifying the components of the opener and assembling it; attaching the door hardware; installing the power unit on the ceiling of the garage; and connecting it to an electrical outlet. Plan on spending the better part of a day to complete the installation.

Watch a video from Chamberlain about How to Install a Garage Door Opener.

For safety’s sake check the auto-reverse sensor of any garage door opener once a month by putting a block of wood on the garage floor in the path of the door and close it. It should reverse direction within 2 seconds, if it doesn’t disconnect the opener and operate the door manually.

Now you know the average cost to install a garage door opener, which includes the labor and material, and what’s involved, so you can decide to do it yourself or hire a contractor. 

Welcome! We hope you’ll find the job costs of home improvement projects useful when you’re deciding whether to do a job yourself vs. hire a contractor. We’re the authors of 20 home improvement books, most notably Home Improvement for Dummies©, Bathroom Remodeling for Dummies©, Carpentry for Dummies©, Plumbing for Dummies©, and Painting and Wallpapering for Dummies©. Our most recent book Fix It and Flip It is in its second edition. We’ve appeared as home improvement experts on television programs such as CNN, Dateline, the Today Show, HGTV and many others.